RATIONALE: Imaging procedures, such as carbon-11 acetate positron emission tomography (PET) and fludeoxyglucose F 18 PET, may improve the ability to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and allow doctors to plan the most effective treatment.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well carbon-11 acetate PET and fludeoxyglucose F 18 PET work in detecting cancer in patients with liver cancer.

INCLUSION:

• Biopsy-proved HCC (stage I and II by conventional staging) or one or more of the following in a patient with clinically documented cirrhosis:
• AFP > 200 mg/dL;
• A contrast-enhancing tumor mass (>1 cm) by CT or MRI; or
• A tumor mass confirmed by arteriography.
• Patient must provide written informed consent and have completed conventional imaging and staging before initiation of PET imaging.

EXCLUSION:

• Pediatric patients under the age of 18 will be excluded from consideration from this study.
• Patients with a known prior malignancy (with the exception of basal cell carcinoma of the skin and carcinoma in situ of the cervix) within 5 years will be excluded from entry into the study. However, patients with a prior HCC thought to have a new primary or recurrent HCC are eligible.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding patients.
• Patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus (fasting blood glucose level > 200 mg/dL)